The Political Influence of Focus on the Family Essay

The Political Influence of Focus on the Family - Essay Example He first gained national recognition as the author of the book Dare to Discipline, in which he advocates using spanking as a form of disciplining children. His recognition as a family advocate and as a Christian leader led to what is now a huge organization dedicated to preserving traditional family values. In addition to the organization's radio broadcasts, it has a series of Bible-based magazines and publications geared toward various groups of people, such as teens, seniors, and singles, and also a political action magazine called Citizen, in which it encourages political involvement on various social issues. It also has an affiliate organization called Focus on the Family Action, which is focused on conservative political activism. Dobson writes, on Focus on the Family Action's website, that the affiliate organization provides "a platform for informing, inspiring and rallying those who care deeply about the family to greater involvement in the moral, cultural and political issues that threaten our nation." (Dobson, "About Us") As a special interest group, Focus on the Family's political focus is to support family values-related issues that are endorsed by the Republican Party. Dobson and Focus on the Family have a lot of pull when it comes to having their voices heard in Washington. He has been known to be very vocal on a wide range of things, including judiciary appointments, prayer in schools, and abstinence education. Dobson himself has been invited to the White House during both the Reagan and current Bush administrations to consult with staff on family-related issues. ("Focus on the Family") Focus on the Family speaks out on many political issues, though there are two "hot-button" topics on which the organization maintains strong opinions and that are at the forefront of the conservative movement politics today. Likely the most controversial issue to which Focus on the Family devotes much of its attention is same-sex marriage and gay rights. As defenders of family values, the organization's stance is that marriage is to be between a man and a woman. On the organization's Web site it is stated that marriage "deserves respect and protection. Any efforts to redefine marriage destroy the institution - and ultimately - civil and healthy society. Thus we oppose any government recognition or endorsement of marriage counterfeits, including same-sex unions." ("Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Civil Unions") Dobson and the organization also hold very strong opinions on the issue of abortion. They believe that the fetus is a human being from conception, and to abort that fetus is murder. Their pro-life stand is about protecting the rights of the unborn child. Francis J. Beckwith writes in an article on the organization's Web site that Focus on the Family believes "the unborn has a right to life that ought to be enshrined in our laws." (Beckwith) There are two main political tactics Focus on the Family has used to use its pull within the conservative movement. One of these is the use of scare tactics to encourage its millions of radio listeners, publishing customers, and other supporters to vote for and speak out in favor of Republican candidates and conservative stances. In his article "James Dobson: The Religious Right's New Kingmaker", Michael Crowley writes that "no one helped Bush win" the 2004 Presidential election "more than James Dobson." Crowley asserts that Bush may have won the swing